Chapter 10 – SONG OF SILVER

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Taelyra left the gathering, leaving the musical voices of the Elves and her brothers' laughter behind. The meal had been wonderful and Celeborn and Galadriel had welcomed she and her brothers so graciously. She loved being in the Lord and Lady's presence. Their warmth and light permeated those around them but Haldir's sudden departure from the festivities had left her feeling bereft and lonely.

Her steps fell heavily as she wandered, she knew not where, along the high walkways of the trees. Her thoughts turned towards her father and she realized that she missed him desperately. She wished she could sit near him now. Hear his strong voice and seek his guidance.

Upward she climbed until she reached a platform beneath a clearing in the forest roof. Through it, she saw the stars shimmering clearly against the black velvet of the sky. They looked so beautiful. She was comforted by the thought that perhaps her father was staring skyward also, looking at the same stars right now. She hoped he was not too far off.

When she was young, her father had sometimes sung in the evenings. She and her brothers would gather round and listen. He would sing of their forefathers and their journey across the seas from the Undying Lands to Middle Earth. The songs were often about sea travel and conquest, love and loss, faith and loyalty. She loved them all.

As she raised her head towards the nightsky she began to sing. The song was one of her favourites; it was about a young Elf's journey to sea following his true love. Her voice rang clear through the boughs of the trees, the leaves seemed to sway with the tune and carry it along.

Haldir had left the feast with the purpose of returning to work. He thought that a long patrol in the nighttime forest might clear his mind and calm the restlessness in his heart.

He had gone to the Guards' quarters and made enquiries about the night's events. Nothing unusual had happened and all seemed quiet in the Lorien Wood. He absently mentioned that he was thinking of patrolling but he was met with curious looks from his Sentinels. They were looking at his apparel. Indeed, he had not even bothered to go home and change from his formal clothing.

He had shrugged off the idea of patrolling and wandered aimlessly since then. He walked into a large clearing, the trees soaring skyward around him. Very high above was an opening in the leafy canopy through which he could see the night sky. A beautiful voice fell to his ears as though from the very vault of the forest ceiling above.

He began to climb the nearest tree in order to see more. In his heart he knew the origin of the song but his head wanted to confirm his suspicions. As he climbed over the edge of the platform he saw the tall, lithe figure leaning into the curve of the tree's truck. Her head was tilted heavenward and her voice rang clearly through the still air.

The lyrics were sad, they told of love lost between two Teleri Elves, though not as sad as the voice itself. Taelyra sounded so sorrowful and lonely. Feelings he knew well.

Taelyra finished the song and gazed heavenward. Tears fell unbidden down her cheeks as she breathed deeply of the night air. As she did so, she became aware that she was not alone up here. She turned to see Haldir standing near the edge of the platform. As usual, his expression was unreadable.

Haldir was stricken to see Taelyra's perfect face streaked with tears. Had something happened after he had left? He reached into his pocket for a kerchief.

"Taelyra," he said as he offered it to her, "has someone spoken cruelly to you or brought some sorrowful news to sadden you so?"

Taelyra accepted the soft piece of cloth and damped her face with it. It smelled strongly of Haldir, which did not serve to raise her spirits, but only made her pine more deeply.

"No Haldir," she answered softly, "I only realized during the cheer of the dinner, surrounded by my brothers, the absence of my father. I miss him dearly and hope that he will be here with us soon."

At least it was a partial truth, she thought.

She loved her father so, thought Haldir. He suddenly wanted to console her. Ease her pain if he could. He could think of only one thing.

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Taelyra could hear the rush of water ahead. Haldir was leading her down a densely wooded path that opened onto a grove of ferns that sloped down to a crystalline pool. The pool was fed by a sheer waterfall, at least the height of a mallorn, that fell from the cliff above. She gasped at the sight.

Good, thought Haldir. This place can only raise a person's spirits.

"This is the Secret Pool," he told her.

"Secret?"

"Well," Haldir chuckled softly,"perhaps not so secret. Many of the Lorien Elves know of it but none are allowed entry to it."

Taelyra stopped in her tracks. "Are we not supposed to be here?"

"Only the Lord and Lady are allowed to enter. And those that they give leave to enter. I was granted entry to the Pool long ago, by the Lady. It was the greatest gift I've ever received."

He led her through the foliage of thick ferns to the water's edge where they peered into the pool. It was clear. Taelyra could see fish at the bottom and many forms of plantlife. The water smelled so clean. There were tiny frogs chirruping in the long grass around them.

"The Lady thought it would ease my heart to bring me here," Haldir said,"and she was right."

Taelyra stood quietly at Haldir's side, she did not want to press. She had a vague memory of a room that smelled strongly of healing herbs and the story of an orphaned Elf brought to the Golden Wood to be raised. She had noticed both Celeborn and Galadriel treated Haldir like a son, although he was not actually born of them.

"My parents died when I was young," Haldir explained,"and if not for the kindness of the Lord and Lady I probably would have perished also. That is why I have pledged my life to serve them."

She looked at him as he spoke quietly to her. She was moved by his sudden openess with her. She was uncertain whether he looked more handsome now, dressed in his fine, formalwear – he wore a grey woven tunic detailed with finely sewn silver embroidery. Or when she first saw him in his guard's uniform, sword drawn at his side with the grey-green Lorien cape thrust back off his broad shoulders.

The grey tunic he wore now made his eyes appear an even deeper shade of blue and his blonde hair shimmered in the moonlight. She looked up into his eyes and it seemed to her that a curtain was being drawn back. His face suddenly became open to her and she saw the emotions that ran beneath the surface, like water that swirls and eddies, revealing that there is much activity in the depths below. She blinked; perhaps this mystical place was playing tricks upon her mind. Perhaps her heart was making her mind susceptible to such momentary illusions.

Haldir took Taelyra's hand in his and led her along the pool's edge to a group of large, moss-covered rocks. When he was young Galadriel had found him crying, as he often did in those days. He thought he had hidden himself thoroughly but she found him easily and led him here. She told him he was allowed entry whenever he wished so he began to come here when his grief became overwhelming.

He would lie in the grass and the ferns crying until his face was hot from his tears. Then he would sit upon these rocks, close to the waterfall and let its cool mist rain upon his face. As soothing as a mother's caress, until he felt better.

He gently grasped Taelyra's shoulders and guided her to the best rock. She raised her face to the falls and let the mist fall upon her.

After a few moments, she turned to him and smiled in gratitude, "I am honoured that you would share this with me. Indeed, I feel much better having seen and felt the beauty of this place."

Her chestnut hair was beaded with water droplets that shone in the moon's light. His face was so close to hers, he could even see the tiny water drops on the ends of her thick eyelashes. He wanted to kiss every last one of them.

"I have never brought anyone else here," he heard himself declare. He wondered. He'd not shared it with even his closest friends. This was his sacred place. His most treasured gift. And he had not hesitated to lead Taelyra here tonight.

She looked up into Haldir's face. His handsome face, that seemed to grow closer. She could feel his breath upon hers. She slowly parted her lips and hoped he would draw even closer. She was not disappointed. He closed his warm mouth over hers.

She felt the cool night air again. It was a brief, chaste kiss – a trial. He was looking deeply into her eyes for a response.

She responded by winding her hands up through his hair and bringing his head back down to hers. She kissed him back and this time he opened his mouth to welcome her.

The kiss deepened and their tongues collided. The sensation of Taelyra's soft, velvety tongue meeting his, made Haldir's spine tingle. He ran his tongue along her full bottom lip. Taelyra sighed and caught his lip lightly in her teeth. This excited him and he gripped her waist with his strong hands pressing her closer to him. She gasped into his mouth as they continued to explore each other with their tongues.

The mist of the waterfall fell all around them and in the moonlight it appeared that a silver aura surrounded them.